UKTC 2025, Leeds 30-31 August

This last weekend was UKTC which has recently moved to Leeds. It was my fourth UKTC in a row having first gone in 2022. A write up of 2023 and 2024 events are available for your reading pleasure, which has made me aware of just how long I've been doing this.

The SKABBateurs (UKTC edition) l-r eldritchfox, damology, stewbacca, cerbeross

The event has been taken over by Haychdee and PunchyMcragefits and friends from Tactics and Theatrics after long time TO Pipey decided to step down from running the event. The location had been moved from York to Leeds (much of a muchness for us travel wise) which meant we were all in the same room, rather than split across 2 as previously. 

The event was slightly down on numbers, perhaps due to summer holidays. I know it has moved dates a few times as well. I has previously been in January, April and also the August bank holiday weekend. Hopefully the new team will be able to get a settled date which will allow people to plan in advance and increase the numbers again. 

There was a lot to like in how the new team were running the event. A shift to Tourplay rather than paper, pen, and an Excel spreadsheet meant both less of a burden on the organising team and more visibility of the event for attendees. The promotional artwork was great and a lot more modern - it could have perhaps done with being more widely shared. The lunches were also exceptionally healthy (I had falafels and hummus and loved it) - although having dealt with a venue on a large event, I can imagine they were pretty pricey. 

I know some of the T&T team have run events before, and would have been giving advice, but for Haychdee's first time TOing, it is a big event to take on and they coped admirably. 

This was the first year that there was a sevens event the night before UKTC. We all decided to take part in this, and arrived at the venue just in time to start after a bit of a traffic nightmare. The sevens was a non-NAF event as they had wanted to ban the Leader skill. I decided to take Dark Elves as I've not tried them at sevens previously, and I thought I'd see how they play. The roster was 3 blitzers, an assassin and 3 linemen. It might have been a good idea to include a witch elf and 2 blitzers, but I'll perhaps try that another time. I've never used my assassin model previously so I thought I'd give it a spin. 

Round 1 v Alan (gizmo3k)

Alan was running a bit late and very apologetic - especially to his friend whose team he was bringing along! However we weren't pressed for time and finished the game with no bother. Alan was part of the Alba Stunty Squad (A.S.S.) who all brought along stunty teams for the weekend. Alan had gnomes with a treeman with pro, 2 dodge beastmasters, a fox and a lot of other gnomes, as well as a cheeky re-roll. 

I received and running up the side, Alan managed to push my ball carrier to the sideline using a beastmaster dodge to get an assist on the block which then resulted in the ball carrier getting crowdsurfed. 

I pushed to score back before half time and this was helped by the treeman throwing one of the gnomes and knocking himself over in the process, allowing me an easy push to run my ballcarrier in. 

I kicked off the second half and put 3 players in the way of the ball carrier, but the sneaky fox is just able to dance through defences and we were behind again.

A touchback on Alan's kick meant I was able to quickly move the ball upfield. An attempted surf failed when a 1 was rolled on the rush, and I scored an equaliser for the game to finish 2-2.

As we'd finished early, I had time to order a quesadilla from the student union bar.  I've not had a quesadilla in ages. It was great. I was very happy. 

Round 2 v Tim (bobbledo)

Tim had some orcs. I kicked and tried to stop the score but it just wasn't happening. I had a chance to equalise

Kicked and tried to stop but it wasn't happening. I needed to score in 2 to get an equaliser, needing a 3+ 2+ dodge and then 2 rushes, but I was caught by Nuffle's tripwire. 

All of my attempts to do anything in the second half failed. There was an opportunity for me to score in the final turn but requiring quite a bit, it didn't happen and it was a 1-0 loss.

Round 3 v Martin (dodge22)

I've chatted to Martin a lot as we're both organisers of the Tournament Series in our area. We'd played once online but this is the first time we were playing in person. He had humans with 3 blitzers, a thrower and 3 linemen, as well as a re-roll. 

I receive and I push up. Despite a lot of humans being put in the way, I manage to dodge around and score. On Martin's drive I put a lot of players in the way and force him to roll some dice. Some dice go wrong and he tries a throw in desperation. I manage to stop the score and get the win, failing a rush for a second touchdown, meaning a 1-0 win.

I've been playing dark elves quite a bit online - I recently won my division in the UKBBL with them, and I really like them. The main downside to the team is that they don't have any wardancers, so they'll probably never be my first love.

After the sevens event, we went out on the town! I'd never been out in Leeds before and it turns out that they have the world's only Disco Wetherspoons. It was very very loud. We then went to a rock club which was more our vibe. See how happy and content we look there.

Waking on Saturday for the main event, we had a lovely hotel breakfast (Mrs Damology says that the Premier Inn is the best of the budget hotels), although I did get confused by the difference between paying for a full English and a continental breakfast when all the food is self-service. I did sneak some beans despite ordering the continental. 

For the main event, I'd taken vampires. Having recently won the league with them, I was feeling pretty confident, although very much missing my star runner. I had 2 dodge runners, a leader and block thrower, and frenzy and strip ball blitzers. Along with thralls to 13, I fit in 4 re-rolls (plus leader). The rest of the team had humans (cerbeross), norse (damology) and lizardmen (eldritchfox). 

Round 1 v Rory (rolo_the_cholo, Cheltenham IGBB Raiders)

I began by sitting down and asking Rory if he knew what vampires could do. When he said yes, I asked him if he wanted to concede. Surprisingly no-one said yes the whole weekend.

He introduced me to his team, and they were made up and shouldn't have been allowed. I am definitely not bitter because he gave me a 4-0 trouncing (spoiler alert), but I do genuinely believe the NAF should stop supporting the slann team. The recent news about a new edition being released this year is I think the perfect time to make that happen. And also armour 9 on frogs! What's up with that. Apparently they're as strong as humans, but I know if I bonked a frog on the head it would definitely have more of an impact than bonking a human on the head. I may have pointed this out many times during our game. 

The game was very depressing, but Rory was an enjoyable opponent. 

I kicked the ball and forced Rory to score early after a frenzy surf. No frogs were hurt. I went for the vampire 2-turn score, but I think I made the mistake of moving the ball up early when my opponent has strip ball (spoiler alert: I didn't learn this until after the tournament). The strip ball frog jumped in and knocked the ball lose. I manage to surf 2 frogs. No frogs were hurt.

The frogs recovered the ball and we were 2-0 down at half time. 

Receiving at the start of the second half and I push to score quickly but again the frogs turn me over. At 3-0 down I go for the one turn touchdown, and manage to get all the required pushes before failing to pick up the ball. 

This basically leaves the door open for the frogs to score a fourth as Rory apologises profusely. 

Whilst I did roll a lot of 1s, I think I was also outplayed by Rory. I deserved to lose but the scoreline is a bit unflattering. However, once it got to 2, I had to push to score back and whether it was 2-0 or 4-0 is almost irrelevant. 

After the game I had a brief chat with torquemada who had played the exact same match up and told me how easy it was. I thought that Oli had set him up to tell me this... I have apologised for my grumpiness. 

Oli won his game, and draws for Ross and Damo meant we got a draw as a team.

Round 2 v Craig (csg243, Smarter than the Average DBBL Bears) 

Craig had nurgle, with block on all the bloaters and rotspawn, 2 guard linemen and sure hands and strip ball pestigors.

It was raining for this game (and I think also 2 of the other matches in our squad - a localised thunderstorm!) which was obviously better for me than for Craig.

This game started off SO well for me. I got a blitz and got round the back and was able to score on my turn 3. I was then able to slow down the nurgle to stop them scoring and go in 1-0 up at half time. Planning the quick vampire score to effectively lock up the game, I went down one flank. The rostpawn was able to tag my ball carrier with tentacles and I manufactured a 1 die block to push them off so I could move up and score. Anything other than a skull is good for me. I roll a skull. It's ok, I've got re-rolls... another skull. 

After this, Craig was able to hit my ball carrier with the ball going off the pitch and into my backfield. He swarms the ball. I'm low on players and re-rolls but a good chain of dice means that I'm able to get 2 vampires away from tentacles and to get a shot at the ball. I'm only able to get a push and the nurgle score.

I have another 2 turns to try to get the winner. I get 2 vampires in range but the distrubing presence dissuades me from a straight off pass.  On turn 16, I plan it all out to get the pass to a runner in the endzone, however it needs some dice and my blitzer fails bloodlust and then fails a dodge and the game ends in a draw.

Another draw for Damo, but losses for Ross and Oli mean that we lose the round. 

Round 3 v Lewis (lewishm, RatGulls)

My third round opponent was the only player I'd played before all weekend. Lewis came down to Folkestone many moons ago when he was living in London. He has since moved to Glasgow and I believe runs Glasbow.

He had wood elves. As they're my favourite team, I had a good idea about what his strategy would be and I felt moderately confident.

My memory is hazy as there was so much back and forth in this game. I receive and I move up to score in 2 turns. This was the same mistake I made against slann and the ball comes loose, and the woodies run away and score. 

I get an equaliser. I think a time out helped me to have the time for this, so we're actually 1-1 at half time.

Kicking in the second half, the woodies are very down on numbers and the tree is rooted. I manage to steal the ball, but it is stolen back. I have an opportunity to surf the wardancer who has stolen the ball, but a snaked dodge prevents me from doing so. 

The woodies run off to stall, but this gives me a shot at a blitz which works. I then have the advantage and I get the ball and handoff to a player who would be able to get out of range. A successful dodge would likely mean a guaranteed draw. A successful dodge plus 2 successful rushes each turn could potentially mean the win. The vampire passes the bloodlust but fails the dodge and the woodies are able to recover the ball and just snatch the win.

This was my favourite game of the weekend. It was a very back and forth between 2 of my favourite teams. 

Oli got a win, Damo a draw but losses for me and Ross meant we lost the round.

Saturday evening we spent a while trying to negotiate a restaurant that we would all be happy with, before it started chucking it down and after a bit of back and forth having been told that the student union wasn't doing food, we managed to order ourselves some pizzas and hung out there for a bit, where the Blood Bowlers had exclusive use. However, there weren't too many there past around 08.30, so I'm not sure whether it was value for money if they had to pay for that exclusive use. 

Round 4 v Meenah (TheMartian, Minnis Clan)

Damo had told us we were all going to get three wins on the Sunday. He was a much more inspirational captain than I was as the actual captain.

I've spoken to Meenah many times, but not played her previously. I lost to her husband Dave at Waterbowl earlier this year, and I'd warned Damo that he was a meany. Meenah and Dave and their two children had formed a team.

I had realised that I'd not played well on Day 1 as I'd not been wearing my vampire hat, which had a 100% win record with vampires (and I was undefeated whilst wearing it). The hat can be seen in all it's full glory in this picture from Summerslam.

The hat has mystical powers. Meenah had the standard 6 block saurus, kroxigor and skinks. I manged to injury a saurs early on in my defence and this forced her to score early. I then moved up an scored on turn 7 as I wanted 2 shots at recovering my knocked out players. I needed 3+ 3+ 2+ dodges, followed by 2 rushes, as I repeatedly failed to hypnotise the player in the way, but I managed it. I recover 1 KO'd player. Meenah then KOs another on her turn 8. 

I received and was going to go for a 2 turn score, but didn't expect so much pressure/didn't count squares/might have been a little hungover and allowed the lizards to get in and knock the ball loose. 

I managed to recover and run off to get the score. The lizards have a shot to score back, and my blitz on the ball carrier fails to get a pow even with a re-roll, so I take a both down to make them have to roll a 3+ pick up. This was the right choice as they fail the 3+ pickup and the vampries win 2-1.

As a team, we actually pick up 4 wins and move up the tables. The power of the hat!

Round 5 v Scott (dracola, Dice In the Alley)

Scott had orcs. He wasn't too familiar with vampires but he had interest in playing them. So when my team started dancing around them, I think he was convinced to get painting on them soon! 

I amazingly got a lot of casualties on the orcs. I turned them over early and ran away. I got an early touchdown. Receiving again, Scott got scared and made a pass, which I nearly recovered for 2-0 at half time but which didn't quite happen.

When I received, I shimmied around back and forth for a bit, frenzy surfed some orcs (although did get one counter surfed - a lesson to learn there) and then ran away out of range apart from being tagged. I blitzed my ball carrier away for 2-0. I then just got in the way of the orcs and ended up victorious.

Ross and Damo both got their second wins of the day, and Oli got a draw, to give us a convincing team victory heading into the final round.

Round 6 v Az (darkfallenaz, Sheffield Stealers)

Az had ogres with just 5 ogres, 4 re-rolls and riotous rookies. This isn't the build I'd take. I'd drop the rookies and a re-roll get an extra ogre. Removing any one of his ogres has more of an impact when he has that few, but it seemed to be working for him. He wanted to use Tourplay to log turns which I personally don't like - I find it fiddly and always end up getting it wrong - but as he was doing it all for both of us, I told him to crack on.

There were 2 ogres with guard (the runt punter had leader stacked), 3 ogres with pro and 3 diving tackle gnoblars. It was raining all game, which again I think was better for me than him. 

I received and moved up bit by bit. I nearly surf an ogre but he instead falls over. I surf another and I foul the one of the ground but the referees up north were having none of it and my player gets sent off.

I end up scoring on turn 8 with only the risk of whether I bite a thrall or not. The one turner isn't possible so we go in at half time with a 1-0 lead.

We do only have 5 vampires and 3 thralls left, so it isn't looking great, and it gets worse when all 3 thralls are removed on the line of scrimmage. 

Az turns over before picking up the ball, however and I'm able to send a runner through double rushing to pick it up in a tacklezone in the rain. It is looking good for the 3 wins that Damo had told me to get, and for the hat to retain it's 100% vampire win record.

However, I overthink the score. He fails to knock down the runner but they're tagged with diving tackle. A 2+ bloodlust and 4+ dodge away from diving tackle (I'm already out of re-rolls by this point due to lacking thralls) would make the score and likely the win.

I look at all of my options and try to do a hypnotic gaze on the diving tackle gnoblar. However to do this require a lot of other dice. One of them fails. I should have just looked at the total number of dice needed to do it this way (it was at least 8) and sucked it up and just attempted the straight up dodge. Another learning. The ogres get the ball back and march slowly up the pitch. They need every square of movement every turn to do it without rushing. I'm unable to get a hit on them, so they walk in for an equaliser. 

This feels like a win that was changed into a draw, and so really feels like a loss. The hat has let me down. I finish on 2/2/2.

Damo gets a win (his third of the day to finish 3/3/0) and Ross (2/2/2) and Oli (3/2/1) get draws so we win the round. 

As a team we end on 3/1/2 after being 0/1/2 on Saturday evening. This leaves us in 22nd place out of 56, which is a very respectable showing.

Conclusions

Vampires don't need a nerf. Don't touch them until I've done better with them please, GW! I'm fully expecting something in the new edition. Hypnotic gaze only working on a 3+ seems the most likely and most easily managed change. 

Will I go to UKTC again? It is a long way and there are a lot more options for tournaments now. I will also be attempting to have a bit more family time next year, so we will see. However, it is a really fun event and team events are some of my favourite events, so I'll probably be persuaded if we have a team going!